Stock tank heater



Oct. 19, 1965 M. H. STAPLETON 3,212,494

STOCK TANK HEATER Filed July 9, 1965 a 33 //VVE/V7'O/? MA THEN/i 574ETO/V F241 2 flizwiw United States Patent 3,212,494 STOCK TANK HEATERMathew H. Stapleton, J eiferson, Iowa Filed July 9, 1963, Ser. No.293,744 1 Claim. (Cl. 126-360) This invention relates generally toautomatic gas tank heaters and more particulary to heaters of this typeused in livestock tanks which are placed in the open.

In the past, and still as to many present day stock tank heaters, due tothe subjection of the heaters to severe changes in ambient temperatures,the commercially available automatic gas control unit would malfunctionafter a relatively short period of use.

One type of control unit, used by applicant, and manufactured under thetrademark Unitrol by the Gryason Division of the Robertshaw ControlsCompany, was forwarded to the division for an anaylsis as to the reasonfor the malfunctioning. It was determined that a white corrosion formedwithin the control unit was causing the malfunctioning. The corrosionwas due to minute amounts of water vapor in the gas which was condensedon the inside of the control unit by the extreme temperatures, such as20 degrees Fahrenheit, to which the unit was subjected.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the formation of thecondensate in and about the main gas valve and the power springsinternally of the control unit was causing these elements to freeze atextreme temperatures, thus creating additional malfunctioning of theunit.

After considerable research and development, an improved stock tankheater has been provided by this invention, which overcomes thesecorrosion and condensation problems. It is therefore, an object of thisinvention to provide such an improved stock tank heater.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stock tank heaterwherein the ambient temperature of the air relative to the automaticcontrol valve unit is stabilized by the heating of the water in thestock tank.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a stock tank heaterwherein said ambient temperature is also stabilized by the constant heatoutput of the pilot light for the heater, and further wherein anytemperature fluctuation about the control unit would be Well above the,deW point of either the air on the external surface of the controlunit, or the gas operating internally thereof.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an automaticstock tank heater capable of attaining the above designated objectiveswhich is economical, simple and rugged in construction, and effective inoperation.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention willbecome readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the stocktank heater of this invention, shown in assembled relation with a stocktank holding a normal quantity of water;

FIG. 2 is an enlarge'd,'fragmentary sectional view of the heater and thetank;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the cover unit ofFIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the stock tank heater of this invention,hereinafter referred to as the heater is designated generally at inFIG. 1. The heater 10 comprises basically an upright cylindrical controlbox 11 having a rectangular, box-like housing 12 at the base 3,212,494Patented Oct. 19, 1965 thereof for a heat chamber 13, and including acircular cover unit 14 for the admission of fresh air to the box 11 andfor the exhausting of gas fumes from the heat chamber 13.

The heater 10 is adapted to be placed into a stock tank 16 of aconventional size and shape for this type heater 10, with the top of thebox 11 and the cover unit 14 always being above the level 17 of thewater 18. As noted from FIG. 2, the water level 17 is maintained atapproximately three-fourths the height of the box 11. The upper end ofthe box 11 and cover unit 14 are at a level above the rolled edge 28 ofthe tank 16.

The box 11 is secured to a side 19 of the tank 16, with its base 21(FIG. 2) resting on the bottom 22 of the tank 16, by a fastening unit 23which includes a circular collar 24 wrapped about the box 11 and a pairof interconnected arms 26 and 27 extended over the rolled edge 28 of thetank side 19. A pair of brackets 29 and 31 are attached to the arms 26and 27, each for threadably holding a bolt 32 turnably engageableagainst the outer surface of the side 19. To space and maintain theheater box 11 inwardly from the side 19, an adjustable U-bracket 33 isaflixed to the lower end of the box 11. By this arrangement of clampingthe box 11 to the tank side 19, the heat chamber housing 12 extends intothe interior of the tank 16 as best shown in FIG. 1.

Refering particularly to FIG. 2, an automatic temperature controlassembly is indicated generally at 34 and is mounted within the box 11.This control assembly 34 includes a gas supply pipe 36 connected to anexternal conduit 37 which leads to a supply of natural or bottled gas(not shown). At the lower end of the supply pipe 36, a commerciallyavailable automatic temperature control unit 38 is fluidly connected. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 38 is supported at approximatelymid way of the height, or length, of the heater box 11; and importantly,at this position of the control unit 38 it is always below the normallevel 17 of the water 18 in the stock tank 16.

A gas discharge pipe 39 depends from a fluid connection from the controlunit 38 and has a conventional burner unit 41 extended horizontally fromits lower end. The nozzle 42 of the burner is supported by a shield 40within the lower end of the box 11. A thermo-couple line 43 also dependsfrom the control unit 38, as does a pilot light conduit 44, both ofwhich elements terminate adjacent the burner nozzle 42 in theconventional arrangement.

Within the heat chamber 13, baffle 46 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is secured to thesides of the housing 12 and extends upwardly at an incline toward thefront of heat chamber 13. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the entireheat chamber housing 12 is also slightly inclined upwardly. The purposefor this, as also the purpose of the baffle 46, is to trap and directcondensate to a pocket at the rear of both the baffle 46 and the base 47of the housing 12. A condensation burner plate 45, having a very narrowwidth as noted in FIG. 4, and having an L-shape with a rearwardlyextended portion 50, is secured to the underside of the baffle 46 anddepends therefrom to where the portion 50 is closely adjacent thehousing base 47 and suspended thereabove. The burner plate 45 is placeddirectly in front of the burner to receive the full heat of the flameemitting therefrom when operating.

To transmit the exhaust gases from the heat chamber 13, an exhaust stack48 is formed internally the box and fluidly connects the interior of theheat chamber with the atmosphere at the top of the box 11. A stackextension 48a (FIG. 2) extends upwardly and inwardly from the stack 48into the cover unit 14. To complete the exhausting of the gas fumes, thecover unit 14 is provided. This unit 14 includes a polygonal shaped base52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which has a pair of diametrically opposed, dependinglips 53 and 54. The lips are each adapted to rest upon and to besupported by, respectively, a pin 56 extended outwardly from the box 11,and the joint 57 between the supply conduit 37 and the supply pipe 36,whereby the main part of the base 52 is spaced above the top 58 of thebox 11. Secured to the underside of the base 52 is a polygonal intakebafile member 60 of a width which permits the upper end of the box 11 tofit between it, the baflle member 60, and the lips of the base 52. Thus,as indicated by the downwardly directed arrows in FIG. 2, air fromoutside the tank enters the hollow box 11 through the vertical spacebetween the base 52 and the top 58 of the box, and between the latterand the spaced portions of the baflle member 60.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 52 is provided centrally with anupturned rim 59 defining an opening of a considerably smaller diameterthan the diameter of the box 11. Supported by a plurality of legs 62 onthe flat portion 63 of the base 52 is a circular collar 64, the bottomedge 66 of which, except for the legs 62, is spaced above the flatportion 63. Extended upwardly from the collar 64 are a plurality ofbraces 67 which support a circular concave-convex cover 68 theperipheral edge 69 of which extends laterally beyond the periphery ofthe collar 64.

The heater is completed by a sensing tube 71 which is integral part ofthe control unit 38. The line 72 for the tube 71 extends upwardly withinthe box 11, thence outwardly thereof to be placed within the water 18.As a practical matter, the tube 71 is inserted through a bracket 73(FIG. 1) secured to the exterior of the box 11, and held thereby againstunnecessary movement.

Operation of the heater 10 is as follows. With the control unit 38 setto maintain the water 18 in the tank at a certain temperature, operationof the control unit 38 results in [a flame emitting from the burnernozzle 42, utilizing fresh air from the top of the box 11 as shown bythe downwardly directed arrows in FIG. 2. The flame impinges upon theburner plate 45 which attains extremely high temperatures. The plate 45,not being in contact with the walls 49, 50, and 51 of the heat chamberhousing 12, imparts this heat to the baflfle 46 which in turn heats thehousing 12 and thus the water externally thereof.

The exhaust gases move upwardly through the stack 48, and out throughthe extension 48a and the cover unit 14. To aid the evacuation of theexhaust gases, air passes between the collar bottom edge 66 and the base52, and then upwardly and outwardly beneath the cover 68. This movementof air creates a slight vacuum suflicient to aid in pulling the airoutwardly from the stack 48.

The placement of the control unit 38 below the normal water level 17,and relatively close, about half the height or length of the box 11, tothe constantly burning pilot light (not shown) adjacent the burnernozzle 42, maintains the temperature at the control unit 38 suflicientlyabove the dew point of the air external of the control unit 38 toprevent condensation of water internally thereof, and prevents freezingof any water condensation which may accidentally form therein. Theplacement of the control unit 38 also maintains the temperature of thegas well above its dew point.

Tests have shown that by maintaining the control unit 38 at thislocation below the normal level of the water line, and above the pilotlight as indicated above, the ambient temperature at the control unit 38has been stabilized at approximately fifteen to twenty degreesFahrenheit above the dew points of the air surrounding the control unit38 and the gas internally thereof.

In summation, a stock tank heater has been disclosed and describedherein which is an improvement over other present day heaters of thistype and for this purpose, particularly as to stabilizing theambienttemperature about the control unit even under most inclementweather conditions.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my stocktank heater without departing from the real spirit and purpose of myinvention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim, any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

A stock tank heater for use in a stock tank containing water at a normallevel, said stock tank heater comprising in combination:

hollow means including an elongated box closed at the bottom end andopen at the top end, said box placed in said tank on the floor thereofwith the top end spaced above the upper edge of the tank, the normallevel of the water in the tank being approximately at a height threequarters the height of the box;

bracket means securing said housing means adjacent to a side wall ofsaid tank and holding said tank in spaced relation of said side Wall;housing means secured to said hollow means at said bottom end beneaththe normal water level, and being open to the interior of said hollowmeans at the bottom end, said housing means including a baflle extendedtransversely across said housing means and slanted toward said box, andincluding further a plate depending from said baflle toward said box andbeing suspended above the fioor of said housing means, said plate havinga width less than the width of said housing means, and including a lipat the lower end thereof extended angularly relative to the main planeof said plate, and extended also toward said interior of said hollowmeans; exhaust means mounted within said box and comprising an elongatedstack member secured to one wall of said box and extending from saidhousing means to the top end of said box, said stack member fluidlyconnecting said housing means interior to the atmosphere; automatic gasmeans mounted in said hollow means with a control unit below the normalwater level, said control means fluidly connected to a source of gas,said control means including a burner unit operable to heat the airinside said housing means; and

cover means mounted on said hollow means, and

spaced above and covering said top end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,295 3/57Johnson 126-360 1,307,706 6/19 Schaetfer 126-367 X 1,525,175 2/25 Fileret a1. 126-367 2,698,616 1/55 Kudobe 126-360 2,805,616 9/57 Roth 98-672,984,237 5/61 Gunion 126-360 3,062,201 11/62 Kudobe 126-360 JAMES W.WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner, ROBERT A, QLEARY, Examiner.

